Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-02

her 1ote poured torth in his long peht up
emotions she looked at him with smile
which arose from the perfect circulation
OF blood. perfect health, and wholesome
development of body and physical powers
which give tone, color and expression 10
corporal happiness. But he misinterpreted
it, and his eager heart leaped up at the
thought that he had found friend.
The life Of seclusion and of plant like
semi consciousness which he had been
leading was now broken in upon and lie
returned 10 the society of his fellow
creatures witha sensation as Of IA dull,
constant pain His joy over this new
found sympathy was Of short duration,
for Miramdy'S father swore with much
energy that he wouldn't low no such no
count tritliu' feller a. him haugin' round
his dar,er.'
In that primitive state of society there
was not that division of labor which exists
among the more civilized. Mrandys
father who i'll ordinary life fulfilled the
functions Of aEriCulturist. manufacturer,
architect and on one occasion even that of
priest, now threatened To play the part of
Judge jury and eNecationer, and glanced
Significantly at the long rifle in its braCk
cts She told Minton Of the paterual OPP
position. with her usual serenity of mind
apparently not IN the least disturbed.
In the mood of despav ocCasOned by
this he had gone down to the circus, and
when the professor extended his invita-
tion in a tone of hravadu, 10 the surprise
of all. Mnton stepped forward with the
wild hope ot getting away! away
When Minton returned partly to con-
sciousneSs he hardly knew AT first whether
he were still i'll the body or not.
He was enVeluped in a sea of roseate
effulgence and on either side of him rose
vast mountain like MASSES tinged with the
same hue They had none of the steep,
Jagged preCipitousneSs which lends a saw
age air to mountain scenery He APP
peared to be settling down slowly into n
valley Gradually the rosy hue faded out
and the masses becalle "A pure dazzling
white Vague. mobile faces dTiftcd past
him: they regarded HIN COmpasSiOnately
with eyes of deepest blue, and then with
odd. grotesque face Of a beautiful woman,
with long locks and sinuous robe trail
ing far ont behind her, passed by; she
seemed To bend over him in pity, and he
stretched out his hands impl0ringly; but
she averted her face and left him. Then
came the face of venerable old man,
with flowing beard rs OF the finest fleece,
who responded To- MiutOn's appeal only by
a hideuuS Cuntnrtiun OF countcnaECe.
Above him he could hear q strange,
soft murmur. the stghiug Of the wind
through the Corlugr. which rose and fell
in wild. muuruful CadcnCrs which he took
to be the voices of the spirits. He lay in
sort of trance; all sense OF time and all
memory of his past lie were completely
lost. An unwonted feeling of perfect
peace took possession of his soul. This
must he Heaven he thought
The balloon sank lower and lower, and
everything became hazy and damp. sud
denly. the meaning of this change burst
upon his mind: he had sunk below the
clouds: he was returning 10 the earth
With the energy Of despair he struggled
TO his feet and. in spite of the warning
blood upon the floor, cast ont his hat and
coat the barometer and anchor. The bal
loon ruSc sluggishly through the clouds,
and for one supreme moment he obtained
a view of that celestial mountain range,
so trauscendently pure and majestic rs 20
be tit for the throne Of God. Then he
perceived that lie was slowly Eravitating
earthward again; with II cry of anguish
he fell upon the floor of the car, uncon-
scious.
When he again rcEained consciousness,
he was lying upon the ground and some
one WAS bending over him. \ tear fell
upon his face. lie opened his eyes
YEARLY.
"Miraudy, poor girl he murmurcd.
His head sank, his eyes became glazed;
the seal Of the angel Of death was set upon
his face.
Suddenly the clouds parted overhead
and a ray of sunshine burst through. The
diving man half rose to his feet, and rs he
fell back into Mirandy's arms look of
ecstasy came over his COuntenance, which
but family reflected the JOY of his re-
leased spirit rs it cleaved its way upward.
and still upward. to those bright regions
of heavenly bliss which it had SO lately
quilted. John Ford Barbour in The Cur
rent